With locations in Osaka (opened 1999) and Tokyo-adjacent Yokohama (2013, shown), Nissin Foods’ CupNoodles Museum followed the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum by creating exhibitions devoted to Momofuku Ando’s invention of freeze-dried ramen noodles – now sold under the CupNoodle brand and many others. Spanning multiple floors of a clean, modern building overlooking Yokohama’s waterfront, this museum offers a somewhat dry (no pun intended) exhibition of the history and concepts that turned ramen into an affordable, shelf-stable product appealing to billions of people. More interesting are interactive experiences ranging from reservation-only ramen-making spaces (choose ingredients, decorate bowls, bring home) to a Noodles Bazaar that lets you order noodle dishes and soups from a wide variety of mini restaurants spanning Asian and European themes – you can even sample curry ramen ice cream in a CupNoodle cup (shown). There’s also a playground to keep young kids entertained with parental oversight, though the gift shop here is remarkably small and unimpressive.
While the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is a stronger pick for fans of fresh ramen, CupNoodles Museum’s attractions are also worth checking out if you have the time. Both museums are just outside Tokyo and close enough to Haneda Airport to visit in an afternoon on the way in or out from Japan.
